How Much Hennessy To Get Drunk?

It’s Friday night, or Tuesday afternoon we’re not here to judge, and you’re ready to let your hair down and enjoy some Hennessy.

You want to enjoy yourself and take a break from your worries for a bit but not get too out of control. How much Hennessy should I drink and how much Hennessy to get drunk? We’re here to help.   

What is Hennessy?

Hennessy is a fine Cognac from France. In fact, you can’t call your beverage Cognac unless it is produced in a specific region in France – the Cognac region. If it’s a similarly made alcohol from other places then it’s called Brandy. 

Hennessy Cognac is a distilled spirit made by distilling and fermenting grapes. After being distilled the liquid is aged in wooden barrels for a number of years before being bottled up and sold as Hennessy.

Hennessy is an amber color with a sweet but boozy flavor and yes it is quite potent.    

How Much Hennessy Will Get You Drunk?

Alcoholic beverages generally fit into three categories when you’re talking about strength. There are low-strength beverages that include beer, seltzer, and wine.

The mid-range alcohols include wine, Soju, and some liqueurs. Finally, there are strong distilled spirits like Whiskey, Vodka, and Cognac.

Hennessy does not take a lot to get a person drunk but there are some factors that affect just how much will get you there. 

ABV

Most versions of Hennessy Cognac are 80 Proof (40% alcohol by volume) and the Hennessy Black variation is even stronger at 86 Proof (43% alcohol by volume).

This means Hennessy is about 8 times stronger than an average beer and about 3 times stronger than wine. That means it’s extremely important to manage your consumption so you don’t end up out of it quickly.   

Weight and Body Composition

The alcohol percentage is the biggest factor in what will cause you to become inebriated but your body is another big piece of the puzzle. Bodies treat alcohol differently depending on the mass and body composition. 

People who weigh more will be able to imbibe more alcohol before becoming drunk. People with a low percentage of body fat will also be able to withstand more alcohol than someone with a higher percentage of body fat.

So the ultimate drinker would be a large person with low body fat and a lightweight (pun intended) would be a lighter person with a higher body fat percentage.

Gender

How about Gender? Is it true that men can automatically drink more than women before becoming drunk? Well, the answer is yes – kind of.

The biggest factor in why men can typically drink more than women before becoming drunk is that men are simply bigger on average.

As was described above the bigger you are with a lower body fat percentage the more Hennessy you can down before you go down.  

How You Drink Hennessy

Hennessy Cognac is a versatile spirit that works well served neat and as the base of an enticing cocktail. How you drink Hennessy plays a role in how much you can consume before taking a self-induced nap. 

If you are enjoying Hennessy straight up as a shot without taking breaks or mixing in water or other non-alcoholic liquids you are going to be drunk in a hurry.

If you take your time with neat Hennessy or slowly sip on a cocktail you can keep your wits for a long time. 

Eat Food

Regardless of the type of alcohol you’re drinking you can guarantee it is going to hit you hard if you don’t eat food before or during your drinking session. This is especially true for high-proof spirits like Hennessy.

Heavy food full of carbohydrates is a smart way to go – think pizza or pasta.

FAQs

How strong is Hennessy?

Hennessy is near the top for spirit strength at 80 Proof (40% ABV).

Is it ok to drink a bottle of Hennessy per day?

No, it sure isn’t! A standard bottle of Hennessy is 750 ml which contains enough alcohol to put you in the hospital. Stick to a moderate amount and mix in some water between drinks for responsible enjoyment. 

How Much Hennessy To Get Drunk – Conclusion

Hennessy Cognac is much stronger than beer or wine so it must be imbibed carefully. In most places, the blood alcohol level to be considered drunk is .08. It does not take much to get there, especially with 80 Proof Hennessy.  

A 166-pound woman only needs 3.5 servings (1.5 oz each) in two hours to be over the limit. A 198-pound man would be right at the limit after consuming 4.5 servings (1.5 oz each) in two hours.

Looking to learn more about alcohol content? Check out our articles on how much Jagermeister to get drunk and blood alcohol concentration when drinking beer.